Short answer
Use liquid chalk markers on non-porous surfaces (glass, mirrors, whiteboards, sealed or porcelain chalkboards, metal, plastic), where they wipe off with a damp cloth. On porous surfaces such as raw wood, paper and some slate-look chalkboards they can be permanent, so test a corner and season a porous board first. Pick a 6 mm tip for menus and a 1 to 3 mm tip for small lettering.
Chalk markers worth a look on Amazon
Liquid chalk markers in fine, standard and jumbo tips, each listing checked by hand.
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Chalkola 10 liquid chalk markers with gold and silver
Reversible 6 mm bullet and chisel tips in neons plus gold and silver, per the listing. Chalkola says they erase from non-porous surfaces and are permanent on porous ones.
- 10 colors
- 6 mm reversible tips
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Chalkola liquid white chalk markers, fine tip, 4 pack 3 mm
Fine 3 mm white tips for small lettering, labels and borders on boards.
- 4 white markers
- 3 mm fine tip
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CHALKY CROWN liquid chalk markers, 8 pack, 6 mm
An 8 color set of bold 6 mm chalkboard markers for menus and signs.
- 8 colors
- 6 mm
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Bandle B. chalk markers, 8 colors, reversible tips
Erasable, water-based chalk markers with reversible tips for glass or chalkboards, per the listing.
- 8 colors
- Reversible tips
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Sharpie Chalk Markers, wet erase, assorted colors, 5 count
Sharpie’s medium tip wet erase chalk markers for blackboards, glass, light boards and whiteboards, per the listing.
- 5 colors
- Medium tip
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Celepen window chalk markers, 8 jumbo colors
Jumbo 10 mm tips for car and house windows, sold as washable, per the listing.
- 8 colors
- 10 mm, 3 in 1 tip
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Liquid chalk marker or chalk stick?
| Liquid chalk marker | Chalk stick | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Bright, opaque, crisp lines | Soft, textured, easy shading |
| Smudging | Smudge resistant once dry | Rubs off with a finger |
| Dust | Dustless | Dusty |
| Removal | Damp cloth on non-porous surfaces | Dry eraser or cloth |
| Porous boards | Can ghost or stain | Fine |
| Best for | Menus, windows, signs that last weeks | Quick notes, kids, shading |
Chalk markers for chalkboard: porous or non-porous?
Before you buy chalkboard paint markers, find out what your board is made of. Chalkola says its liquid chalk markers work on non-porous chalkboards such as glass, acrylic, laminate and porcelain steel boards and wipe off with a damp cloth. On a fresh porous chalkboard, it recommends seasoning first: rub the side of a chalk stick over the whole surface, then wipe it off, so the pores fill and liquid chalk lifts cleanly later instead of ghosting (Chalkola FAQs).
A quick test: write a small mark in a corner, let it dry for a day, then wipe with a damp cloth. If a shadow stays, the board is porous; season it, keep to stick chalk, or accept that the design is semi-permanent.
Wet erase chalk markers and washable chalk markers
“Wet erase” means the dry ink comes off with water, not with a dry eraser, so it will not smudge while the sign is up. “Washable” on chalk marker packaging usually means the same thing on smooth surfaces. Neither word promises the ink comes out of porous materials or fabric, so keep markers off clothes and unsealed wood unless you want the mark to stay.
Choosing a chalk marker tip
Tip sizes as Chalkola recommends them
| Tip | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mm | Fine writing, small labels, detailed art | Wine glass and jar labels |
| 3 mm | Everyday chalkboard writing | Prices, short lists |
| 6 mm | Bold menu lettering, signs, quick fills | Cafe menus, event boards |
| 10 to 15 mm jumbo | Windows, car windows, large boards | Shop windows, game day cars |
How to use liquid chalk markers
- Shake
With the cap on, shake well so the pigment mixes.
- Prime
Press the nib down firmly on a test surface several times until ink floods the tip and makes a smooth mark.
- Plan the layout
Sketch with a chalk stick or pencil first; it wipes away without disturbing dry marker.
- Letter and fill
Outline letters with a fine tip, fill with a wider one, and let each color dry before overlapping.
- Clean up
On non-porous surfaces, wipe with a damp cloth. For dried-on marks, Chalkola suggests a magic eraser, ammonia-free glass cleaner, white vinegar or a drop of rubbing alcohol.
Chalk markers versus paint markers
Chalk markers are for marks you plan to remove. If the sign should survive rain and cleaning, use a paint marker: see window paint markers for glass and white paint markers for permanent white. For glass art that stays, see glass paint markers.
More chalk marker guides
Windows have their own quirks: see window chalk markers. Sharpie’s version is covered in Sharpie chalk markers.
Questions people ask
What are the best chalk markers for glass?
Any liquid chalk marker sold for glass works, since glass is non-porous and the ink sits on top. For big window lettering a jumbo tip of 10 to 15 mm covers fastest; for detail a 1 to 6 mm tip. Chalkola says its markers wipe off glass with a damp cloth or glass cleaner. White and neon colors read best from a distance.
Are chalk markers permanent?
Not on non-porous surfaces such as glass, whiteboards and sealed chalkboards, where they wipe off. On porous surfaces, yes, they can be. Chalkola says its markers will not wipe off porous surfaces such as concrete, paper, wood and painted surfaces, and recommends seasoning a fresh porous chalkboard with chalk first to avoid ghosting.
What do professional chalk artists use?
Chalkboard sign artists use a mix: chalk sticks and chalk pencils for soft shading and easy changes, and liquid chalk markers for crisp, bright lettering that does not smudge. Many work on non-porous boards so markers wipe clean, and plan layouts in pencil or plain chalk first. Sidewalk artists mostly use stick chalk and pastels.
Does marking chalk wash off?
It depends on the product. Chalk used to snap lines on job sites is sold in standard and permanent formulas, and the label says which; standard chalk brushes or rinses off most surfaces, while permanent formulas are made to last and can stain. Liquid chalk markers wash off non-porous surfaces with water but can stay on porous ones.
Does liquid chalk rub off?
Once dry, liquid chalk is smudge resistant, so a light brush of a sleeve will not ruin a sign, but a damp cloth removes it from non-porous surfaces. That is the trade-off against stick chalk, which rubs off with a dry finger. On porous surfaces it does not rub off easily and may need cleaning products or paint to cover.